Rochester native qualifies for 2022 Winter Olympics as freestyle skier
[MGN]
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Chris Lillis was born in Rochester, grew up in Pittsford, and will represent the United States at the biggest level as an athlete. He also attended Monroe Community College.
The 23-year-old announced he qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics via an Instagram post.
Lillis was ready to compete in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, but an ACL tear forced him out. Chris’s older brother, Jon, competed in those 2018 games.
Chris is the 2021 U.S. Aerials champion, and became the youngest person ever to win it at age 17 in 2016. Jon finished 8th in that competition in 2018.
Chris also had 13 career podium finishes in Nor-Ams, four of them being first place victories.
The Olympics start Feb. 2 and run through the 20th, but freestyle skiing only happens on select dates. The Olympic schedule lists those dates as Feb. 3, Feb. 5 – 10, and Feb. 13 – 19.